You have to admire people who have the guts to go with a bold colour in their home. When it comes to home decor, many of us agonize for hours, days, EVEN MONTHS…on the perfect colour for the kitchen, bedroom, living room, etc….

It’s an oft-repeated scenario. You stand in front of the paint store’s “Wall of Colour Palettes”, staring intently (at least that’s the impression you may be trying to convey) - and desperately trying to make a decision between five shades of green that look so similar you’d need an in-depth colour analysis to tell them apart.

And that’s when you just give up and call an interior designer, your best friend, or your mom.

Wall colour is important. It’s a reflection of you, your taste in decor, and the mood you’re trying to convey in each room. There are “safe” choices, but who wants to thought of as ‘blah’ and unimaginative?

Benjamin Moore announced that its 2016 Colour of the Year is “Simply White OC-117”.

“Aw, come on! WHITE?? That’s a safe colour!”

Sure it is. But white is timeless, incredibly versatile - and when used with other ‘less safe’ colours - can pack a eye-popping punch! The WOW! factor that we look for when decorating.

"The colour white is transcendent, powerful and polarizing – it is either taken for granted or obsessed over," said Ellen O'Neill, Benjamin Moore Creative Director. "White is not just a design trend, it is a design essential. The popularity of white, the necessity of white, the mystique of white is quantifiable in our industry. Of the top ten best-selling Benjamin Moore colours, variants of white occupy five spots. It was inevitable that we would ultimately recognize white as our Colour of the Year."

White transcends style, and is seen in traditional, transitional and modern interiors. White also presents attractive exterior looks for the home, from colonial to contemporary - and virtually everything in between.

Simply White OC-117 was chosen after careful review of the company's more than 250 white selections, as it was the most neutral, level, and constant in the various light sources used in today's design environments.

A larger colour swatch to appreciate Simply White

Benjamin Moore also unveiled its 23 colours of the Colour Trends 2016, a corresponding palette of 23 colours to illustrate how white works within the colour spectrum.

There are plenty of soft neutrals, as well as softer hues of various colours. There are also some very bold and vibrant colours that will definitely delight the eye. One colour we found interesting is called ‘Royal Flush’. We’ve seen a similar colour used on an accent wall, and it really added personality to the room.

Not sure how to use a colour, or combinations of colours? Just ask the in-store professionals, or go with what feels good, and looks good, to you.

It’s paint. It can also be changed.

The 23 colours of the Colour Trends 2016 palette include the following:

The Benjamin Moore Colour Studio forecasts colour trends after a year of research attending major industry shows around the world, while also taking cues from standouts in architecture, fashion, textiles, home furnishings and the arts.

TOP IMAGE: The Benjamin Moore Colour of the Year 2016, Simply White OC-117(photo is courtesy of Benjamin Moore)